Following our enlightening Flash Gordon 40th anniversary interview with the film’s director, Mike Hodges, we got to have an in-depth conversation with author John Walsh. Titan Books published Walsh’s exhaustive coffee table book Flash Gordon: The Official Story of the Film last November. It was a labor of love for Walsh that delves into the making of the movie and celebrates its enduring appeal.
Walsh is a Trustee of the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation, and was also behind the BBC’s critically acclaimed documentary series Sofa Surfers, which explored childhood homelessness, and the BAFTA-nominated film My Life: Karate Kids, which tackled issues of bullying among disabled children.
Den of Geek: You’ve been involved with preserving the legacy of the late Ray Harryhausen, and your first book through Titan was about some of his work. You first met him at film school in the 80s?
John Walsh: That’s right.
Walsh is a Trustee of the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation, and was also behind the BBC’s critically acclaimed documentary series Sofa Surfers, which explored childhood homelessness, and the BAFTA-nominated film My Life: Karate Kids, which tackled issues of bullying among disabled children.
Den of Geek: You’ve been involved with preserving the legacy of the late Ray Harryhausen, and your first book through Titan was about some of his work. You first met him at film school in the 80s?
John Walsh: That’s right.
- 1/21/2021
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
Author: Euan Franklin
You can’t overstate the influence of Ray Harryhausen on Hollywood cinema. His stop-motion animation inspired the most exciting fantasies of Peter Jackson, James Cameron, John Landis, and (most obviously) Nick Park from Aardman Animation. He worked on The 7th Voyage of Sinbad in 1958 and returned to the mythical hero 15 years later (after spending the ‘60s working on Jason and the Argonauts and One Million Years B.C.) with a different cast and crew in The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, which marked his first credit as a producer.
In Golden Voyage, Sinbad (John Phillip Law) and his crew intercept a homunculus flying above their ship. It carries a magic tablet, and Sinbad wears it around his neck as a boastful reward. When he visits Marabia, Sinbad meets with the golden-masked Grand Vizier (Douglas Wilmer) who tells him that the tablet is a third of an overall whole. It...
You can’t overstate the influence of Ray Harryhausen on Hollywood cinema. His stop-motion animation inspired the most exciting fantasies of Peter Jackson, James Cameron, John Landis, and (most obviously) Nick Park from Aardman Animation. He worked on The 7th Voyage of Sinbad in 1958 and returned to the mythical hero 15 years later (after spending the ‘60s working on Jason and the Argonauts and One Million Years B.C.) with a different cast and crew in The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, which marked his first credit as a producer.
In Golden Voyage, Sinbad (John Phillip Law) and his crew intercept a homunculus flying above their ship. It carries a magic tablet, and Sinbad wears it around his neck as a boastful reward. When he visits Marabia, Sinbad meets with the golden-masked Grand Vizier (Douglas Wilmer) who tells him that the tablet is a third of an overall whole. It...
- 3/1/2018
- by Euan Franklin
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Author: Euan Franklin
It’s hard to watch a blockbuster without the influence of Ray Harryhausen. In The Golden Voyage of Sinbad alone, you see premonitions of Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Pirates of the Caribbean – all inspired by Harryhausen, the only visual effects artist to be considered an auteur.
Actor Caroline Munroe, Sam Clemens (the son of screenwriter Brian Clemens), Harryhausen’s daughter Vanessa, and filmmaker John Walsh attended a 45th anniversary screening of The Golden Voyage of Sinbad at Regent Street Cinema in London. They participated in a Q&A afterwards discussing experiences on-set, details from behind the scenes, and costume malfunctions.
Caroline, you were the only woman in that film. Tell us a little bit about it.
Caroline Munroe: I suppose I was one of the early women on the set. Obviously, we have Kali [a Harryhausen creature] in all her glory. But I felt very looked after,...
It’s hard to watch a blockbuster without the influence of Ray Harryhausen. In The Golden Voyage of Sinbad alone, you see premonitions of Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Pirates of the Caribbean – all inspired by Harryhausen, the only visual effects artist to be considered an auteur.
Actor Caroline Munroe, Sam Clemens (the son of screenwriter Brian Clemens), Harryhausen’s daughter Vanessa, and filmmaker John Walsh attended a 45th anniversary screening of The Golden Voyage of Sinbad at Regent Street Cinema in London. They participated in a Q&A afterwards discussing experiences on-set, details from behind the scenes, and costume malfunctions.
Caroline, you were the only woman in that film. Tell us a little bit about it.
Caroline Munroe: I suppose I was one of the early women on the set. Obviously, we have Kali [a Harryhausen creature] in all her glory. But I felt very looked after,...
- 2/27/2018
- by Euan Franklin
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Release the Kraken! They're only now releasing this Blu-ray in the U.S.. The patron saint of every special effect fan gets the royal treatment in this career overview capped with industry testimonials and rare film items from a cache of 35mm outtakes found packed away in Rh's storeroom. Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan Region B Blu-ray Arrow Video Us 2011 / Color / 1:78 widescreen / 97 min. / Street Date June 28, 2016 / 19.95 Starring Ray Harryhausen, Peter Jackson, Nick Park, Phil Tippet, Randy Cook, Tim Burton, Terry Gilliam, Tony Dalton, Dennis Muren, John Landis, Ray Bradbury, Ken Ralston, Martine Beswick, Vanessa Harryhausen, Caroline Munro, Guillermo del Toro, Joe Dante, John Lasseter, James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, Henry Selick. Original Music Alexandre Poncet Produced by Tony Dalton, Alexandre Poncet Written and Directed by Gilles Penso
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
The time has long passed that Ray Harryhausen was merely a cult figure. By the release of Golden Voyage...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
The time has long passed that Ray Harryhausen was merely a cult figure. By the release of Golden Voyage...
- 6/29/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Oscar bait performances by Meryl Streep, Judy Dench, and Bruce Dern, an evening with Oliver Stone, and a tribute to the late Ray Harryhausen are some of the many highlights of this year’s St. Louis International Film Festival. Cinema St. Louis announced the 2013 line-up earlier this week and it’s the usual hi-quality mix of independent films, foreign films, locally-made films, end-of-year studio awards product, and retro programming.
Now in its 22nd year, the Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival (Sliff), put on by Cinema St. Louis, is one of the largest international film festivals in the Midwest. This year’s Sliff will be held November 14-24, 2013. Sliff’s main venues are the Hi-Pointe Theatre, Tivoli Theatre, Plaza Frontenac Cinema, Webster University’s Winifred Moore Auditorium, Washington University’s Brown Hall Auditorium and the Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville, Il. Sliff showcases the very best in cutting-edge features and shorts from around the globe.
Now in its 22nd year, the Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival (Sliff), put on by Cinema St. Louis, is one of the largest international film festivals in the Midwest. This year’s Sliff will be held November 14-24, 2013. Sliff’s main venues are the Hi-Pointe Theatre, Tivoli Theatre, Plaza Frontenac Cinema, Webster University’s Winifred Moore Auditorium, Washington University’s Brown Hall Auditorium and the Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville, Il. Sliff showcases the very best in cutting-edge features and shorts from around the globe.
- 10/14/2013
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
It's been a long while since last we had anything to report on the ten years in the making documentary Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan, which chronicles the life and times of the legendary effects artist, but finally the film is gearing up to make its premiere.
Look for it to air on the Sony Movie Channel on Wednesday, April 3rd, at 8:00 Pm Et/5:00 Pm Pt, as well as on DirecTV and Dish's video on demand platforms. If you have the Sony Movie Channel, the flick will be airing all month long alongside several of Harryhausen's most beloved films. Hopefully we'll get some home video news soon, but, hey, we take what we can get! Gilles Penso directs.
Synopsis:
Aside from interviews with the great man himself, shot over five years, there are also interviews and tributes from Vanessa Harryhausen, Tony Dalton, Randy Cook, Peter Jackson, Nick Park,...
Look for it to air on the Sony Movie Channel on Wednesday, April 3rd, at 8:00 Pm Et/5:00 Pm Pt, as well as on DirecTV and Dish's video on demand platforms. If you have the Sony Movie Channel, the flick will be airing all month long alongside several of Harryhausen's most beloved films. Hopefully we'll get some home video news soon, but, hey, we take what we can get! Gilles Penso directs.
Synopsis:
Aside from interviews with the great man himself, shot over five years, there are also interviews and tributes from Vanessa Harryhausen, Tony Dalton, Randy Cook, Peter Jackson, Nick Park,...
- 3/15/2013
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Ray Harryhausen:
Special Effects Titan
Written and directed by Gilles Penso
Produced by Alexandre Poncet, Co-produced by Tony Dalton
Featuring Ray Harryhausen, James Cameron, Terry Gilliam, John Landis, Nick Park, Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson, Tim Burton, Joe Dante, Guillermo Del Toro
Release date: On DVD and Blu-ray from 11th March 2013
Running time: 97 mins (film), Cert: tbc
“I think all of us who are practitioners in the arts of science fiction and fantasy movies now, all feel that we’re standing on the shoulders of a giant. If not for Ray’s contribution to the collective dreamscape we wouldn’t be who we are.” James Cameron
The remarkable career of the movie industry’s most admired and influential special-effects auteur, the legendary Ray Harryhausen, is the subject of Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan. Described as “A continual delight” (The Observer), “the stop-motion maestro gets the respect he deserves” (Daily Express...
Special Effects Titan
Written and directed by Gilles Penso
Produced by Alexandre Poncet, Co-produced by Tony Dalton
Featuring Ray Harryhausen, James Cameron, Terry Gilliam, John Landis, Nick Park, Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson, Tim Burton, Joe Dante, Guillermo Del Toro
Release date: On DVD and Blu-ray from 11th March 2013
Running time: 97 mins (film), Cert: tbc
“I think all of us who are practitioners in the arts of science fiction and fantasy movies now, all feel that we’re standing on the shoulders of a giant. If not for Ray’s contribution to the collective dreamscape we wouldn’t be who we are.” James Cameron
The remarkable career of the movie industry’s most admired and influential special-effects auteur, the legendary Ray Harryhausen, is the subject of Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan. Described as “A continual delight” (The Observer), “the stop-motion maestro gets the respect he deserves” (Daily Express...
- 2/27/2013
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
French director Gilles Penso has posted the trailer for his Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan online, and of course we have it for you here along with a clip and more details on this definitive documentary about the life and times of the legendary effects artist.
Synopsis:
Aside from interviews with the great man himself, shot over five years, there are also interviews and tributes from Vanessa Harryhausen, Tony Dalton, Randy Cook, Peter Jackson, Nick Park, Phil Tippet, Peter Lord, Terry Gilliam, Dennis Muren, Rick Baker, John Landis, Ken Ralston, Guillermo Del Toro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Robert Zemeckis, James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, and many more. The documentary is produced by Alexandre Poncet.
For the first time Ray and the Foundation have provided unprecedented access to film all aspects of the collection including models, artwork, and miniatures as well as Ray's private study, where he designed most of his creations, and his workshop where he built them.
Synopsis:
Aside from interviews with the great man himself, shot over five years, there are also interviews and tributes from Vanessa Harryhausen, Tony Dalton, Randy Cook, Peter Jackson, Nick Park, Phil Tippet, Peter Lord, Terry Gilliam, Dennis Muren, Rick Baker, John Landis, Ken Ralston, Guillermo Del Toro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Robert Zemeckis, James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, and many more. The documentary is produced by Alexandre Poncet.
For the first time Ray and the Foundation have provided unprecedented access to film all aspects of the collection including models, artwork, and miniatures as well as Ray's private study, where he designed most of his creations, and his workshop where he built them.
- 3/17/2011
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
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